In short
Mercury turns retrograde on 26 February 2026 in Aquarius and stations direct on 20 March 2026 in Aquarius. The retrograde lasts 22 days. Mercury governs communication, contracts, technology, shopping and learning; this period favors review over new beginnings.
Ends: 20 March 2026, 23:30 · Aquarius
Duration: 22 days · times are Istanbul time (UTC+3)
What does retrograde mean?
A planet does not really move backwards. Seen from Earth it appears to reverse for a while. In the Vedic tradition this period is a time to finish, revisit and review what the planet governs.
Mercury is retrograde: read the text one more time before you sign, and take another look before you hit send. Technical hiccups also tend to cluster in this stretch.
Dates match Western calendars. The sign may differ, because Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which is anchored to the stars.
Effects on the 12 Moon signs
In Vedic astrology these readings follow your birth Moon sign. Find your Moon sign and read that section.
♈ Aries Moon sign — 11th house
Mercury retrogrades through your 11th house: income, goals, friends, networks and the fulfilment of wishes. Good things to review now: your income goals, your circle of friends and your place in a community.
♉ Taurus Moon sign — 10th house
Mercury retrogrades through your 10th house: career, status, social role, reputation and success. Good things to review now: your career plan, your reputation and questions of authority at work.
♊ Gemini Moon sign — 9th house
Mercury retrogrades through your 9th house: fortune, faith, higher education, long journeys, mentors and dharma. Good things to review now: your study plans, long journeys, your beliefs and your bond with a teacher.
♋ Cancer Moon sign — 8th house
Mercury retrogrades through your 8th house: transformation, depth, shared resources, research and rebirth. Good things to review now: shared money, loans, insurance and a deep matter you have been avoiding.
♌ Leo Moon sign — 7th house
Mercury retrogrades through your 7th house: relationship, partnership, marriage, cooperation and the person opposite you. Good things to review now: partnerships, contracts and something left unsaid in a relationship.
♍ Virgo Moon sign — 6th house
Mercury retrogrades through your 6th house: health, daily order, service, rivals and your power to overcome difficulty. Good things to review now: work routines, daily habits, health habits and an old problem at work.
♎ Libra Moon sign — 5th house
Mercury retrogrades through your 5th house: creativity, children, love, intelligence, education and fortune. Good things to review now: a hobby or project you left half done, your love life and matters involving children.
♏ Scorpio Moon sign — 4th house
Mercury retrogrades through your 4th house: home, mother, inner peace, emotional security and property. Good things to review now: household tasks, repairs, moving plans and an old family matter.
♐ Sagittarius Moon sign — 3rd house
Mercury retrogrades through your 3rd house: your courage, siblings, communication, skill and drive to initiate. Good things to review now: correspondence, paperwork, siblings and unfinished matters with people close to you.
♑ Capricorn Moon sign — 2nd house
Mercury retrogrades through your 2nd house: your savings, family, speech, food and drink, and values. Good things to review now: your budget, money owed and money conversations within the family.
♒ Aquarius Moon sign — 1st house
Mercury retrogrades through your 1st house: your personality, body, health, self-presence and outlook on life. Good things to review now: a half-finished decision about yourself, your body and postponed health check-ups.
♓ Pisces Moon sign — 12th house
Mercury retrogrades through your 12th house: the inner realm, rest, spirituality, distant places and withdrawal. Good things to review now: expenses, sleep, matters abroad and old burdens you still carry.